Potent storm to cut humidity levels across midwestern, northeastern US

A significant drop in heat and humidity will arrive in the Midwest this weekend before reaching the Northeast early next week.

Temperature and humidity levels will be slashed as a potent front sweeps across the northern tier of the country.

"A strong cold front will deliver a refreshing shot of cooler air to the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore said.

Prior to the welcome relief, strong thunderstorms will erupt in the central U.S. into the weekend as the front clashes with the heat and humidity in place.

The heat will first be trimmed across the Midwest, where highs will fall several degrees below normal late this week.

After reaching the upper 80s and low 90s at late week, highs are only expected to reach the low to mid-70s in Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend.

Highs in the middle to upper 60s are in store across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

A slight chill will fall over the region once the sun dips below the horizon. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the 40s across the northern tier and 50s over much of the Plains.

Cooling will take place towards the latter half of the weekend and early part of next week in places such as Chicago and Detroit.

As the front continues to sweep eastward, the cooler and less humid air will reach the Northeastern states next Monday and Tuesday.

Highs are expected to fall to more seasonable levels across the interior Northeast and the Interstate-95 corridor, ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s, Gilmore said.

Even more notable than the plummeting heat will be the drop in humidity, which has been comparable to the Deep South on occasion over the past week.

The cool shot will give area residents an excellent opportunity to open the windows and give air-conditioning units a break. Sleeping will be more bearable in non-air conditioned dwellings.

The drop in temperatures and humidity values will be much welcome, especially for those who have dealt with stifling conditions in the Northeast over the past week, Gilmore said.

The high temperature in Washington, D.C., reached or exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Aug. 13-15. This was the first time the city reached or exceeded 100 for three consecutive days since July 5-7, 2012.